The National Peace Council (NPC) has expressed concern over the politicization of land issues and the stirring up of ethnic sentiments on issues regarding land, saying they pose a threat to national unity and cohesion. It has therefore, advised Ghanaians, irrespective of their ethnic origins, to stop being parochial in their outlook and consider themselves as part of a unified country. The Deputy Chairman of the NPC, Maulvi Wahab Adam, told the Daily Graphic that having been together as a unified nation for the past 52 years, it was wrong for Ghanaians to now stir up ethnic sentiments and make certain areas reserved for people from particular ethnic groups. He said rather, now was the time to portray unity and a resolve to forge ahead as a strong and unified nation ready to set an example for the rest of Africa. Maulvi Adam, who is also the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, said the Constitution discouraged ethnocentrism, hence its prohibition of the establishment of political parties along tribal lines. "If we cannot stay together, then we cannot be the strong and prosperous nation that we want to be," he said. He expressed gratitude to the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah II, for comments he made discouraging the politicization of issues concerning Ga lands and appealed to all ethnic groups not to sow seeds of discord among themselves. Another member of the council, Mr. Emmanuel Sowatey, said the Constitution did not restrict anyone from living in any area, adding that on the contrary, it promoted freedom of movement and the right of every Ghanaian to live anywhere. He said when issues bordering on natural resources began to assume ethnic dimensions, then steps needed to be taken to address them. Mr. Sowatey said the problems reflected a failure to find mechanisms to deal with such issues over the years. Less than a month ago, some Ga-Dangme youth strongly protested against the use of a building situated on Osu land by the former President, Mr. J.A. Kufuor, as his office. A few days after that, a group calling itself Patrons for the Protection of Western Region's Heritage came out to state that if Gas insisted on not permitting Mr. Kufuor and any other person on their land, then it would insist on getting a fair share of the resources of the Western Region. Four days ago, some youth in the Akyem area gave people from other ethnic groups farming on Akyem lands three months to vacate them. Source: Daily Graphic